South Africa’s EFF opposition leader Julius Malema has said South African National Defence Force contingent in the DRC has surrendered, and M23 is disarming them.
Malema dispelled claims that South Africa had sent fighter jets to the DRC, saying they don’t have that capacity.
SANDF is leading the Southern African Development Community Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (SAMIDRC).
“SA currently operates only two fighter jets that are in working condition. Additionally, there are no available landing facilities within the neighboring DRC countries.
“The situation is stagnant and nothing substantial is being accomplished. The troop commander has conceded and struck a deal with M23, ensuring their safety in exchange for withdrawal from the DRC,” Malema said in a statement on Wednesday.
In this regard, the Economic Freedom Fighters leader said there is need for South Africa to increase the military budget, and all military equipment tenders must be halted without delay.
“Denel [Aeronautics] must be empowered with the mandate to produce military equipment, and our soldiers must undergo re-training before considering redeployment. We will not accept anything less,” Malema said.
Denel is a state-owned company and strategic partner for innovative defence, security and related technology solutions for South Africa.
Malema further protested against the postponement of the Portfolio Committee on Defence meeting that was scheduled on Wednesday with Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Angie Motshekga.
Among the issues that were to be discussed in the meeting was the situation in the DRC, where SANDF lost four more soldiers in addition to the nine that were killed in a gunfight in eastern DRC on Friday.
“Today’s portfolio committee meeting has been postponed simply because the Minister of Defence chose not to appear. We cannot stand by and be complicit in this situation; we must take a stand and demand the immediate withdrawal of our soldiers from the DRC,” Malema said.
RAMAPHOSA REACTION
President Cyril Ramaphosa in a statement on Wednesday confirmed that South Africa had lost 13 soldiers.
“The fighting is the result of an escalation by the rebel group M23 and Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) militia engaging the Armed Forces of the DRC (FARDC) and attacking peacekeepers from the SADC Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (SAMIDRC),” he said.
Additionally, Ramaphosa said the attacks on peacekeepers resulted in the deaths of SAMIDRC members from other troop contributing countries, namely, Malawi and Tanzania, as well members of the UN Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) brigade.
“The situation in Goma and Sake, where our troops and their counterparts are stationed, remains very tense, volatile and unpredictable,” he said.
Adding his voice to the situation, former SANDF General Maomela Motau told South African media that the lack of transparency and communication from the government on the DRC matter shows there is something untoward.
He noted that the government should have known the DRC situation was bad and did something about it.
M23 fighters marched into Goma on Monday and took charge, including of the airport in the biggest city in the eastern DRC, among other installations.
